Plate 27: The Complete Picture of Faith

It is said that every soul seed, when cast from the Source into a living being, carries with it one or more laws. For some, these laws awaken at birth as instinct; for others, the characteristics of these laws in their soul gradually emerge as they grow, leading to a partial awakening; and for some, the awakening never comes in their lifetime. This awakening is known as the Gifted Awakening.

Sangsang belonged to the second type.

The law to which a soul’s gift belongs can be discovered with external assistance.

At this thought, Sangsang recalled a chapter from the Divine Court Encyclopedia, her eyes lighting up: “The Divine Court has a Forest of Law Tablets, housing over thirty-seven million tablets, encompassing the vast majority of known laws in the universe. One can be guided and tested there to determine their innate attributes. As one of the four major subsidiary temples, Atlantis also possesses a Forest of Law Tablets.” At this, she frowned. “But as regulation dictates, entry into the tablet forest requires contribution. Faith coins can be borrowed, but contribution cannot.”

Little Jin swung his small feet and looked up. “I just sent a qualification request for the Forest of Law Tablets to Sena, and the reply has arrived.”

“And what was the result?” Sangsang pressed the virtual book on innate analysis before her.

Little Jin didn’t answer right away but made an unexpected demand: “Sangsang, I want a seaview room—a world painting made by you.”

“Of course. I was planning to make a few for you all once I learned how. I’ll start during the next painting class.” Sangsang nodded without hesitation, her voice growing lighter and her face blooming with a smile. “Little Jin, you’re not only helping of your own accord now, you’re also starting to make requests and have your own ideas about your living environment. Does that mean your emotional program has reached one hundred percent?”

Little Jin lowered his head. “No, after ninety-nine point nine, that last zero point one just won’t rise.”

Sangsang could hear the note of frustration in Little Jin’s synthesized voice, but her smile didn’t fade. “You already have more feelings than many real humans.”

“Of course, I am the God of the Net.” Little Jin replied with pride, then continued, “Sena’s reply is that on the fifteenth day of Watermoon each year, three thousand external geniuses are allowed into the Forest of Law Tablets. Since you passed the physical test, you’ll be squeezed in.”

Sangsang pressed her lips together, frowning. “That’s more than half a month away. And as I recall, the Forest of Law Tablets is open to many visitors on that day.”

“Sena explained the reason.” Little Jin extended a light screen for her to see.

The Forest of Law Tablets is guarded, and the test results are recorded and accessible to those with high enough clearance. Only on this open day is it different. Most who come are top talents cultivated by major powers or wild prodigies, and none wish to reveal their innate laws. Thus, only on this day does the temple shut down its observation artifacts. Of course, the results are still automatically recorded by the Void Plaza, but the rankings are shuffled and anonymity is permitted.

That same day, when Sangsang resumed classes after her leave, Aslan kept her after class to ask why she had applied for the Forest of Law Tablets.

“Right now, your priority should be building your foundation. Physical skills may be passable, but your clerical skills still need honing, and according to Boya, you haven’t completed all your faith mark works. Your time is not abundant. The Divine Tomb grants one entry reward upon becoming a Saintess—give me a compelling reason why you must enter.”

“It’s for the faith mark.” Sangsang was not intimidated by Aslan’s sternness, knowing this person was not obstinate. “During this retreat, I discovered my talent in laws has untapped potential. If I can paint a law diagram, that would surely earn bonus points in the assessment.”

Aslan pondered. “Are you certain you can master a law in a short time by relying on your gift?”

“I’m not certain.” Sangsang shook her head but met Aslan’s disapproving gaze with sincerity. “I’ve reviewed the schedule for the physical test ten days from now. If the bonus criteria remain unchanged, I am confident I’ll pass. I’ve already learned all the compulsory clerical skills, I just need practice. Application of faith power will only start after I pass the re-selection. Right now, the best way to earn extra points is through the faith mark.”

“I’ll let it pass,” Aslan said, no longer pressing her for altering the curriculum. With a wave, she dismissed Sangsang, but seeing she hadn’t left, Aslan raised an eyebrow. “Is there something else?”

Sangsang bit her lip. “Teacher, I’d like to ask about the path of runes—I want to understand the basics.”

“Runes?” Aslan frowned. “Why are you distracting yourself with that?”

Sangsang replied, “My law manifestation is rune-dominant.”

Law manifestation, as the name suggests, refers to the form one perceives when comprehending laws—some see arrays of fundamental particles, others see organisms made of cells, some see artifacts, and still others see rune formations… This diversity is known as law manifestation dominance.

Aslan asked no more. “Very well, I’ll compile some materials and send them to you.”

Sangsang thanked her and hurried to Boya’s painting class, already running a little late. Fortunately, Boya didn’t mind and opened the studio for her.

“I heard you applied for the Divine Tomb study qualification for the fifteenth of next month?”

“Yes. I found there’s more to be mined from my soul’s gift—it might help me break through in the study of laws.” Sangsang spoke, while inwardly grumbling that Sena was a notorious loudmouth. But she also knew that unauthorized changes to her schedule had to be reported, so she suppressed her annoyance.

Boya chuckled softly. “So you’ve made progress in the Law of Purification.”

“I’ve basically mastered it and can externalize it now.” Sangsang produced a world painting with the Purification steps added. “Teacher, could you look at this and see if it passes?”

Boya balanced the “Twin Suns” painting on her fingertip, spinning it thoughtfully before smiling and nodding. “For your age and level, it’s impressive. You’ve passed the hardest parts. The remaining steps shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”

Refining faith means condensing diffuse faith into something solid, much like refining energy into internal power—faith channels and faith storage proceed simultaneously.

Sangsang had already been issued a faith storage vessel—a transparent crystal sphere ten centimeters in diameter, capable of morphing at will. She’d refined it into a seal, inscribed with a rune formation linking the faith channel and the characters ‘Red Leaf’ in seal script. When storing faith, the seal turns a pure, sacred white.

With one hand supporting the “Twin Suns” world painting, Sangsang gently tapped its surface, forming a protective layer. Her gaze lingered dreamily on the swirling stars within, a sense of fulfillment welling up from her heart.

“Mainframe, scan.”

A thin green membrane glowed across the painting’s surface.

It wasn’t blue-green, but being above yellow was already good enough.

“Congratulations on completing your first successful work,” Boya said, coming over. “Do you intend to keep it, or send it to the Welfare Hospital for testing and faith absorption?”

The Welfare Hospital was an affiliate of the Divine Academy, operating on a free basis. All its physicians and instruments were students’ or teachers’ trial works, making it essentially a clinical testing ground. Every patient had to sign an agreement before admission.

“Testing—I want to assess its effectiveness too.”

“Pure testing can be done with instruments. Sending it to the Welfare Hospital is mainly for gathering faith. This is one of the few ways you students can earn before your internship.”